Water Quality Assessment of Polachira Wetland Ecosystem in Kerala

The present study is aimed at assessing the water quality status of the Polachira wetland. Polachira is one of the important fresh water wetlands of Kerala coast, located in the Southern part of Kollam district. The study was carried out for a period of two years from October 2012 to September 2014. The parameters estimated were temperature, depth, pH, alkalinity, Salinity, DO, dissolved CO2, Hardness, TS, TDS, TSS and the nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, silicate and sulphate). Accepted standard methods were followed for the estimations. The observations were statistically interpreted. The detailed investigation of the parameters which are well within the desirable limit indicates that the Polachira wetland is a fairly unpolluted, except for high alkalinity and hardness, which can be attributed to natural causes and agricultural runoff.